Stand Up

Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin star in "Stand Up Guys," a buddy comedy about a trio of wise guys coming out of retirement for one last roll of the dice. Frankly, they had me at Pacino, Walken and Arkin. Despite long and wide-ranging careers, the three have never been in the same film. They are as curmudgeonly and entertaining a rat pack as you might expect. Director Fisher Stevens splits his time these days between acting and making documentaries, including an Oscar win in 2010 for "The Cove" (shared with director Louie Psihoyos)

Comics Dana Gould, Jonah Ray, Rory Scoval and more embark on a freewheeling journey as they're handed random topics and must craft them into stand-up performances. Conceived by fellow comics Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad, the show was a hit on the international comedy circuit and will be converted into a 14-episode series for the U.K. in the spring. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., L.A. Fri., 8 p.m. $10 losangeles.ucbtheatre.com.

What the heck is up with Katt Williams? The comedian on Monday told a Seattle TV station that he's quitting his chosen profession. "I'm just going to go ahead and announce my retirement from stand-up," he told KOMO News in an interview as he exited what he said was the fourth hotel he'd been asked to leave in two days. "I'm kind of done. " PHOTOS: Celebrity protraits by the Times The 41-year-old, whose real name is Micah Williams, said he hadn't planned to give the news on a Seattle street, but rather back in L.A. at the offices of ICM or concert promoter LiveNation.

The principle of the filibuster is a sound one: Any member of the U.S. Senate may speak for any length of time, so a senator who is fiercely determined to oppose a bill may command the podium and stop other business in order to make a point of grave importance. Used judiciously, the device prevents a narrow majority from imposing its will on a significant or determined minority. It allows passions to cool, and reinforces the Senate's place as a deliberative body, an institution that the framers imagined might slow the more rampant and populist instincts they believed would emerge from the House of Representatives.

The hiring of Pat Haden as athletic director was universally hailed as a great move by an NCAA-troubled USC. Haden represented sensibility, stability and respect. So now Trojan world is going bonkers, and true to what he represents, Haden sits here grounded. Kudos to Pat Haden for being Pat Haden. He remains unmoved by the rants of fans and the most recent media headline: "Kiffin not the coach for USC's future. " Some folks were saying they just knew Haden had run out of patience, too many embarrassing Lane Kiffin moments for him to hang with the guy. And yet Haden reportedly told Kiffin a week ago he had no worries — apparently forgetting to mention Brett Hundley's name.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant remembers one emotion washing over him Wednesday night when the clock finally ran out on a 3-1 playoff victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. "Relief," he said with a tired smile. Teammate Omar Gonzalez was a bit more effusive. "It just felt great to hear that whistle blow," he said "and to finally be over with those guys. " By dispatching the Quakes on aggregate goals, 3-2, in a two-game playoff series, the Galaxy now gets to move on to play some other guys -- either Real Salt Lake or Seattle -- in the Western Conference finals beginning Sunday at the Home Depot Center.

Gwyneth Paltrow has mastered the day job. The Oscar winner is capable in both the stilettos of"ENMV0002398"> "Iron Man's" Pepper Potts and in the herb garden she's displayed on her lifestyle blog Goop. So when given the chance to moonlight for a project like Stand Up to Cancer, the biennial televised fundraiser that utilizes an hour of commercial-free broadcasting across the big four networks and a slew of cable stations, she knew she couldn't phone it in. "When I do something, I want to actually do it, I want to commit and put my time in," Paltrow told us of her role as executive producer for the Sept.

One key Lakers veteran has high expectations for something that hardly warranted praise in recent seasons. "I feel we can be one of the most dangerous benches in the league," said Antawn Jamison. Despite the "Bench Mob" and "Killer Bees" nicknames in recent seasons, few would describe that unit in Jamison's terms. Last season, the Lakers finished last in points (20.5), 28th in efficiency (27.2), 20th in shooting percentage (41.7%) and 28th in point differential (9.4). Coach Mike Brown played musical chairs in the bench rotation in hopes he'd find a sudden surprise.

Re "Balanced budget prophets," Opinion, Sept. 30 I did not realize before reading Doyle McManus' column that Mitt Romney had signed Grover Norquist's no-tax pledge. One of the major responsibilities of the president is the federal budget, which has two key parts: income and expenses. By signing away the ability to raise revenue, Romney will violate the oath a president must take to faithfully execute the office. A large number of senators and representatives have signed this pledge.